Return to You

Kate Perry

Return to You

Praise for Kate Perry’s
Novels

"Perry's storytelling skills
just keep getting better and better!" –
Romantic Times Book Reviews

"
Can't wait for the next in this series...simply great reading.
Another winner by this amazing author."
–Romance Reviews Magazine

"Hot!
Recommended!" –
Bookpleasures

"Exciting and simply
terrific."
–Romancereviews.com

"
Kate Perry is on my auto buy list."
–Night Owl Romance

"A winning and entertaining
combination of humor and pathos."
–Booklist

Other Titles by Kate
Perry

Close to You

Perfect for You

Playing Doctor

Project Daddy

Project Date

Marked by Passion

Chosen by Desire

Tempted by Fate

Return to You

Kate Perry

© 2012 by Kathia Zolfaghari

Cover Graphic
© Image Source - Fotolia.com

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's
imagination or are used fictiously and are not to be construed as
real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One

"You want me to
what
?"

Everett Parker would have smiled if he were
that kind of man. But he wasn't, so he patiently watched and
waited. He was excellent at waiting, and even better at getting
what he wanted.

"This is a joke, right?" The young man swept
his hand through his hair. "Well, it's not funny."

Leaning back in his leather chair, Parker
took a sip of his scotch before answering, aware of the tension he
was causing. "No joke, Michael. You heard correctly the first time.
I want you to shoot the film in Mill Valley."

"Shit." The director speared his fingers
through his hair again and started to pace.

Parker nursed his drink, watching him
coolly. Once Michael's tantrum ran dry, he'd do what he was told.
After all, the terms of the offer would be irresistible.

He'd make sure of that.

It was almost a shame he had to do this. He
admired the young man. Of all the people around him, Michael
Wallace was the only one who stood up to him. The rest of them
cowered in corners, peeing on themselves as he walked by.

He wasn't manipulated easily, something
Parker usually relished. At this moment, it irritated him. He
needed Michael's cooperation, but he'd never consent of his own
free will—meaning Parker was going to have to force him. Not easy,
but certainly not impossible. He just had to find the right
bargaining chip. "Sit down."

Glaring, Michael dropped into the chair on
the other side of his massive desk. To his credit, he remained
silent, though his heated eyes said enough.

Good boy
, Parker thought, feeling paternal pride even though Michael
wasn't tied to him in any way other than business.

Which was what he intended
to remedy. "You're the hottest director in the business. You can't
be surprised I want you to direct
Love
Unbound
."

The corner of Michael's lips quirked. "That
wasn't what surprised me, and you know it. Stop playing games,
Parker."

Once upon a time, the boy had called him
Everett.

One more thing he had to set right.

Parker pushed aside the nostalgic thoughts
so untypical of him and got back to the matter at hand. "Mill
Valley is not only the perfect backdrop for the movie, it's the
most cost effective. It's as simple as that."

"There are dozens of little towns in
California that would be just as suitable."

"I want the movie shot in Mill Valley."

Michael leaned forward, brimming with
repressed intensity. "Why? What does Mill Valley have that can't be
found anywhere else?"

My daughter.
"Mill Valley is the most quaint of small
California towns."

"Since when?"

"Since it had a complete facelift two years
ago."

"Mill Valley would need more than a facelift
to improve it. It'd need complete reconstructive surgery."

"Enough," Parker said quietly. Most people
froze in fear when they heard his low, menacing tone.

Michael was an exception. "No, it's not
enough. I want to know why it's imperative to shoot this film
there."

"Because I say it's imperative."

"Get some other director to do it then. How
about Blasdell? He's up-and-coming and needs a break."

"I want you to direct."

"And if I say no?"

Parker cocked a brow in mock astonishment.
"What about your contract with Parker Pictures?"

"I'll break it."

"Break it and you'll never work in this
industry again."

"Damn it, Parker. What the hell is your
game?"

"No game." With the
instincts of a seasoned predator, he moved in for the kill. "I
want
you
to direct
this movie. I'll make any provisions I see fit and you'll follow
them, just like your contract says. In return, once this movie is
wrapped up, I'll release you from your contract."

Michael looked up sharply. "What?"

Everyone had a weak point. Find it, and they
were yours. "You heard me."

"I want it in writing."

"I wouldn't have expected anything
less."

The young man stared at him through narrowed
eyes, fingers tapping rhythmically on his thigh. "Why don't I
believe it's going to be that easy?"

"It will be." Parker sipped his scotch and
waited.

"Isn't it too early in the day for that?"
Michael asked out of the blue.

"It's never too early for fifty year
single-malt."

He propped his elbows on his knees and rested his
chin on his steepled hands. "Jesus, Parker. Does she know?"

Parker didn't pretend to misunderstand.
"No."

"Shit."

"Does it make a difference?" The answer was
key.

"Of course it makes a difference. I haven't
seen her in eleven years."

"It shouldn't matter. Eleven years is a long
time. You've moved on, and she's moved on—"

"What?" Michael's head shot up. Parker
almost smiled at the scowl on his face. "What do you mean she's
moved on?"

"Did you really think she'd pine her life
away, waiting for you?"

He jumped up, his chair falling over in a
loud clatter. "Fuck it, Parker. If you know something, say it
now."

This was going to be easier than he first
thought. "I don't know anything. You know very well I have no
contact with her. You were there when she told me to get out of her
life." He could still hear her precise words, and they still had
the power to twist his gut.

Michael placed his hands on the desk and
leaned down. "Is that what this is about? You're trying to get in
her good graces again? Well, let me tell you, this is a bad idea.
She's every bit your daughter. She's not going to budge."

Parker's eyes never wavered from Michael's
but his fingers tightened on the snifter. Damn it, he knew she was
stubborn. But he'd get through to her. He had to. "This is about
filming in the best location. In this case, that happens to be Mill
Valley." He drained the last of his drink. "I wouldn't worry about
running into her. You'll be too busy to socialize."

"I hope you know what you're doing." Michael
turned around and strode out, slamming the door hard enough to make
the windows shimmy.

Setting the empty crystal tumbler on his
desk, he smiled without humor. Oh, he knew what he was doing.

The plan was in motion. This time next week
he'd be in Northern California with Michael right behind him. He
wondered what kind of reception they'd get.

Not that it mattered.

He turned around and opened the bottom
drawer of his desk. Reaching in the back, he pulled out two framed
pictures and set them in front of him.

The woman smiling in the first one was
luminous. The sun lit her long golden hair from behind, making her
look angelic and glowing. She smiled right at him, love shining in
her dark eyes.

He ignored the familiar ache in his chest,
put the photo face down, and picked up the other one.

The child in it was running across a field
of wildflowers, looking back over her shoulder. Her dark hair was
in suspended animation around her head and her eyes, so much like
her mother's, laughed with childlike delight.

He traced the lines of her face, wondering
if her eyes still sparkled.

He pushed his chair forward, reaching for
the button on his phone that would connect him directly to his
executive assistant. "Elaine, make travel arrangements. We leave
for Mill Valley next Monday."

Her low, cool voice was distinct over the
intercom. "Mill Valley, sir?"

"Just outside San Francisco. Where we're
shooting our next picture."

"For how long should I reserve lodging?"

"Just arrange for travel and
transportation."

"But no lodging, sir?"

"We have a place to stay." He hung up and
reclined, crossing his legs as he spun his chair to face the wall
of windows behind him.

Parker glanced at the
picture he still held in his hand. Michael was right—she
was
every bit his
daughter. She wouldn't be happy to see him. At least, that's what
she'd say.

He knew better. Even after all this time.
Even if she said she didn't want him there.

"Summoned or not, the god will come," he murmured,
stroking the cold glass covering the photo.

Chapter Two

The bastard was back.

Olivia slammed the register drawer shut,
startling Mrs. Ledbetter. She gave her customer an apologetic smile
before scowling at the cretin who'd entered her store. "What do you
want?"

She refused to get distracted by the
unfamiliar laugh lines on Michael's familiar face. "Of all the gin
joints—"

She shook her head,
swallowing the rage she thought she'd exorcised eleven years ago.
"Being cute will
not
soften me up."

Mrs. Ledbetter stepped forward, gripping her
bag tightly and darting curious looks at her and Michael.

Olivia didn't need her dirty laundry aired in front
of one of her best customers. "Was there anything else I could get
you?"

"No, dear. Thank you." The woman glanced at
them again before leaving.

Olivia waited until the door snapped shut
before rounding on Michael. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He grinned sardonically. "Gee, it's nice to see you
too, Olivia. It's been a long time."

She folded her arms across her chest. "Not
long enough."

"Listen, Olivia. We need to talk." He strode
purposefully through the lingerie displays, eyes fixed on her. His
focus was disturbing. The Michael she used to know would have been
distracted by the lingerie.

And, damn, he was sexy. She
frowned. She didn't remember him being so hot. He'd filled out, and
he looked
good
in
his beaten up leather jacket and jeans, kind of like Indiana Jones
meets Hugh Jackman. He'd turned into the kind of guy that inspired
women to buy the lingerie she sold, all the while hoping it'd end
up forgotten on the floor.

But not her. She wasn't
like most women, and she
definitely
didn't want Michael. Nothing about him turned her
on anymore—not the intelligence shining from his bright blue eyes
or the intensity he focused on her. Her nipples perked up only
because of the cold air that blew in when he'd opened the
door.

"Stop right there." She held her hand out to
stop his advance but he didn't stop until he stood directly in
front of her, only the checkout counter separating them.

She concentrated on breathing calmly, but
she inhaled his scent, and it threw her off. It was as familiar to
her as the aroma of Gran's gingerbread at Christmas. Memories she'd
worked hard to forget crashed over her with the force of a
tsunami.

She tightened her arms around her body. "Say
what you have to and then get out."